Australian Wine & Cheese Tasting May 10th & 12th
Thursday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM,
Saturday 12 PM – 5:00 PM
Greetings to all Wine Steward friends,
Happy Mother's Day to all Wine Steward mothers.
We have tasted a lot of great wines over the past several weeks from Cameron Hughes and Ninety Plus Cellars. This week were a going to head in a different direction. It has been a while since we have had an all Australian wine tasting. Recently, we were introduced to wines from two new Australian wineries. They are D'Arenberg and Shoofly. We will be tasting 4 white wines - a five grape blend called "The Buzz Cut", a three grape French Rhone style blend call "The Freckle", a Viognier blend call "The Hermit Crab", and a Sparkling Riesling/Muscat blend. This should help stock your fridge for the summer with white wines that are sure to be a hit at any cookout. We will also be tasting 4 reds - a three grape blend called "The Stump Jump" red, a blend of two red and one white grape called "The Aussie Salute", a smooth drinking Shiraz with grapes from three different regions, and a 100% Shiraz from Australia's most prominent wine region that can cellar up to 10 years.
Stop in, grab a glass and start tasting. It's as simple as that.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our tastings.
Thanks,
Rocco
Shoofly Buzz Cut White 2008
Origin: Adelaide, South Australia . Ben Riggs, Shoofly’s winemaker, is a South Australian native who knows his stuff and where to get it. His roster of grape growers is one of the most sought after contact lists in the country, meaning the grapes come from a “who's who” of Australian growers and viticultural neighborhoods. The fruit for Shoofly’s Buzz Cut is sourced from Australia’s premier cool-climate wine region, Adelaide; this region is ideally suited for zippy, crisp white varietals.
Varietal: 37% Riesling, 32% Viognier, 21% Verdelho, 5% Chardonnay, 5% Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes: Buzz Cut is a fresh, vibrant white blend displaying exotic fruits on the nose and refreshing apple and citrus crunch on the palate. Austere Adelaide Hills Riesling combines with exotically perfumed Viognier and tropical-fruited Verdelho to produce a mouthwatering wine offering supple, ripe fruit alongside crisp, spritzy acidity. Dashes of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc contribute to a rich mouthfeel and bright, herbal edge. No oak and 14% Alcohol . 2008 vintage not yet rated. 2007 vintage: 87 points - Stephen Tanzer, 87 points - Robert Parker
Food Pairing:This is a great anytime sipper that will meet all of your summer drinking
needs. It works well with all types of fish, shellfish, chicken, pork,
summer salads and even hotdogs. Instead of reaching for that beer,
try a chilled glass of the BuzzCut.
Shoofly “The Freckle” White 2008
Origin: McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Varietal: 40% Marsanne, 37% Roussanne and 23% Viognier
Tasting Notes: “We had a yearning for the classic (well in the Rhone anyway) combination of Marsanne, Roussanne and Viogner. Knowing one of our Langhorne McLaren Vale growers had a small patch of mature Marsanne and the famously ‘freckly’ Roussanne in his midst, we went straight to the source and snared all he had. The result is a wine that takes you on a stroll through a summer orchard with aromas of peaches, white nectarines and spices leaping from the glass. Add to this a fleshy, succulent, honeysuckled kissed palate that fills every nook and cranny and you’re off to the races! A touch of oak coupled with bright acidity is the perfect addition to the preceding myriad of flavors.” Aged 3 months in older French oak. 14.5% Alcohol
Food Pairing:This wine’s versatility
allows it to pair well with some of the more difficult wine-pairing cuisines
around the world; namely Indian, Asian and vegetarian foods. It also has the
ability to stand up against moderately spicy foods. Summer Lobster
drowned in butter – this is a great match.
D’Arenberg “The Hermit Crab” White 2009
Origin: 79%McLaren Vale, 21% Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Varietal: 72%Viognier, 28% Marsanne
Tasting Notes: The nose is expressive and rich with orange peel, candied ginger, apricot, and citrus notes. The Marsanne shows itself in the peach and nutty complexity which is married nicely with an appealing straw like vegetal character. The palate has a lovely balance of sweetness, palate weight, and acidity. Lemon and lime characters are prominent on the palate with a lively granny smith apple acidity providing great focus. With some bottle age the stone fruit notes become more prominent with less emphasis on the citrus spectrum. Aged 22% in older French and American oak . 90 points Wine Spectator, 90 points Wine & Spirits, 89 points Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
Food Pairing: Bold and exotic dishes, this wine pair s well with a large variety of fish / shellfish Scallops, lobster, crab, and shrimp; meats – Turkey, ham and duck all have a sweetness to them that this wine loves; vegetables - Slow cooked root vegetables, like turnips, carrots and squash, along with sweet potatoes have the same sweetness which bring out this wine’s flavors; and cheese - chèvre, gruyère, aged gouda, and double and triple creams. It also plays well with the following Aromatic seasonings: Cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, ginger, (Moroccan tagines, mild Indian curries and Caribbean dishes).
D’Arenberg “The Stump Jump” Red 2010
Origin: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Varietal: Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre
Tasting Notes: The 2009 Stump Jump Red nose features plum and bright red fruits with a hint of roasted meats, earth, pepper and exotic spices. The palate displays delicate fruit with juicy blackberry. A touch of dried herbs adds a savory edge with fine, lifted tannins providing a long finish. 50% matured in seasoned oak casks for 6 months. 87points Wine Spectator
Food Pairing:
An excellent food wine.
Try with full flavored offerings such as lamb shanks, pork, game, barbecue
meats or a great steak. Great with Double-cooked pork ribs.
Shoofly “Aussie Salute” 2007
Origin: Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. The Fleurieu Peninsula region produces soft, fruit-driven wines, with Shiraz, Grenache and Viognier all performing admirably.
Varietal: 48%Grenache, 47% Shiraz, 5% Viognier.
Tasting Notes: Big, bold and beautiful! The Aussie Salute is a blend of succulent Grenache, spicy Shiraz and a hint of aromatic Viognier- a feisty combination that works wonders on the palate. Rich, fragrant and inviting, this wine expresses blackberry, plum, currant and black pepper notes. Made with structure and grip, the vibrant, juicy length lingers with a long smooth finish. The Shiraz and Viognier juice in Shoofly’s Aussie Salute is co-fermented to aid integration. The final wine is matured in new and older American and French oak for 8 months. 88 points- Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
Food Pairing:
An excellent food wine.
Try with full flavored offerings such as lamb shanks, pork, game, barbecue
meats or a great steak. Great with Double-cooked pork ribs. This is
yet another great summertime barbecue wine.
Shoofly Shiraz 2010
Origin: McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Clare Valley, Australia. McLaren Vale’s temperate maritime climate offers reds of rich, ripe fruit character and great acid balance. Langhorne Creek, a “cool desert” situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula, produces soft, fruit-driven wines while Clare Valley enjoys a cool and continental climate, perfect for producing spicy fruit characters.
Varietal: 100% Shiraz
Tasting Notes: On the nose, the 2010 Shiraz shows earthy gravel, spicy licorice and dense dark mulberries, while the sweet upfront berry fruit presented on tasting gives way to complex cedar, earth and spice notes, wrapping up with ample structure and grip. The vibrant, juicy fruit runs the length of the palate and lingers with a “have another glass” finish. Aged 10 months in new and seasoned American and French oak. 14.5% Alcohol. 2010 vintage - Not yet reviewed. 2008 vintage - 89 points Wine Spectator, 88 points Wine Enthusiast, 88 points Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
Food Pairing: Shiraz is great for grilled meats or veggies, wild game, richly flavored red meats, and barbecue. It is a great match for Lamb and let’s not forget the barbecued ribs!!!! Last but not least, Shiraz pairs well with cheeses such as cheddar, piave and aged gouda. If all else fails you can sip this one on its own.
D’Arenberg “The Footbolt” Shiraz 2009
Origin: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Varietal: 100% Shiraz
Tasting Notes: The nose is full of the fresh berries and spice synonymous with McLaren Vale, with a slight eucalyptus lift. Secondary characters of sarsaparilla, cinnamon and clove which are expressed more completely as the wine opens up. The palate is mouth coating and plush with red and purple fruits mingling with orange peel and earth. There is a welcomed kick of five spice on the back palate. The lifted and fine fruit tannins provide structure and pull the wine together nicely. The Footbolt Shiraz has proven to cellar well for at least a decade. Aged 12 months in new & older French & American barriques. 88 points International Wine Cellar, 88 points - Best Buy Wine & Spirits, 87 points The Wine Advocate
Food Pairing:
Shiraz is great for grilled
meats or veggies, wild game, richly flavored red meats, and barbecue. It
is a great match for Lamb and let’s not forget the barbecued ribs. Last
but not least, Shiraz pairs well with cheeses
such as cheddar, Piave and aged Gouda.
Frisk “Prickly” Riesling 2011
Origin: Alpine & King Valleys, Victoria, Australia
Varietal: 89% Riesling, 11% Muscat Gordo
Tasting Notes: It’s normally pretty darned cool in the Alpine Valleys, but 2011 took the mercury to new lows. Grapes were harvested up to 4 weeks later than usual, and yields were particularly low - near ideal conditions for our cold-lovin’ Riesling fruit! You’ll see intoxicating floral aromatics and vivacious citrus fruits, with great persistence and concentration of flavor.
Food Pairing: This fun loving wine should be in everyone’s refrigerator for the summer. It’s a sit around and pass the chips and dip type wine, or as we say “a porch pounder”. However, it also has a more serious food pairing side to it. This should pair well with sweet and spicy dishes alike. This is another great lobster pairing as it has enough acidity to cut through the butter.
SHOOFLY WINES:
Australians are serious about keeping their cool. They may look relaxed as they casually shoo away the incessantly buzzing flies, but the message is clear - nothing's going to get them down! They tend to take life's challenges in stride and simply get on with the job at hand. Like making wines with some oomph and stuffing, the sort you’d just as likely tuck into with your midweek pasta and take to a fancy dinner party on the weekend. That said, they take their winemaking pretty seriously, and it shows with Shoofly’s collection of robust, full-of-flavor wines. Crafted from hand-selected vineyard sites that are rich in character and demonstrate true varietal pedigree, these are wines that show Australia at its best.
d ’ ARENBERG
One of the undisputed kings of Australian Shiraz and Rhone varietals, d’Arenberg has managed to turn individuality into an art form by doing a whole lot of little things differently. The original vineyards were established by Joseph Osborn in 1912 in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia. A century on, the estate has grown to 345 acres, and the mantle now rests with fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn. By maintaining a focus on traditional winemaking and nurturing their old-vine material, the Osborn clan has successfully established themselves as one of the country’s leading producers of concentrated, characterful wines. Ranked among Australia’s Top 10 Shiraz producers by Wine & Spirits Magazine in July 2007, this reputation is clearly recognized worldwide.